Taiwan TSMC Opposes US Semiconductor Data Request: "Cannot Disclose Customer Information"

Request for Data Submission by the 8th of Next Month...Taiwan Government Also Opposes
Bloomberg "Concerns over Trade Secret Exposure Even within Korean Government"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Taiwanese semiconductor company TSMC has strongly opposed the U.S. government's demand for supply chain data, and the Taiwanese government is also reported to have taken a stance against it. As the U.S. requests supply chain data from global semiconductor companies for purposes including semiconductor supply chain issues and countering China, foreign media reported that the South Korean government has also expressed concerns.

According to Bloomberg on the 7th (local time), Taiwan's TSMC, the world's number one foundry (semiconductor contract manufacturing) company, strongly opposed the U.S. government's demand for semiconductor supply chain data. Earlier, on the previous day, Sylvia Fang, TSMC's legal officer, stated at a press conference, "The U.S. government's demand for supply chain information involves handing over sensitive information, especially customer information, which is unacceptable," and added, "We are evaluating future response measures."

Earlier, on the 24th of last month, the White House held a video conference with global semiconductor companies including Samsung Electronics, demanding that "within 45 days, submit a questionnaire containing supply chain information such as semiconductor inventory, orders, and sales." As the deadline for submitting the requested data by the U.S. government approaches on the 8th of next month, it is interpreted that Taiwan's TSMC has officially expressed its opposition.

Fang emphasized, "The U.S. is seeking to resolve supply chain issues, and we will look into how we can support this," but also stressed, "We have already done a lot to resolve supply chain issues, including expanding production of semiconductor chips for automobiles."

Ryu Chi-tong, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of United Microelectronics, another Taiwanese semiconductor company, also expressed opposition in an interview with Bloomberg, stating, "We will protect our customers' confidential information."

Opposition voices are also coming from the Taiwanese government. On the 2nd, Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs drew a line by stating, "Taiwanese semiconductor companies will not provide information related to trade secrets without customer consent." The National Development Fund of the Executive Yuan, a major shareholder of TSMC, also emphasized in a parliamentary response on the 30th of last month that "customer confidential information will not be provided."

Alex Pai of the Kuomintang, Taiwan's opposition party, expressed opposition in an interview with the local Taiwan Economic Daily on the previous day, saying, "Taiwan should not automatically submit to the U.S.," and questioned, "If we provide the information the U.S. demands, can TSMC maintain its competitiveness in the world going forward?"

Bloomberg also reported that South Korea, another major semiconductor producing country, expressed concerns about the scope of the U.S. data request. According to Bloomberg, during a meeting in Paris the previous day between Yeo Han-gu, Director General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), concerns were conveyed, stating, "The scope of the requested data is extensive and includes many trade secrets, causing significant domestic concerns."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.